The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-12
FRANKLIN IN FRANCE.
HIS WORK AS COMMISSIONER AND
AS MINISTER.
Negligence in Business Affairs-How
He Accomplished His Mission-His

Popularity.
From the PHILADELPHIA Record
John Bach NcMaster is the writer of
very interesting paper, entitled Franklin
in France" printed in the September
atlantic. In the beginning he alludes to
the great mass of literature of which Frank
lin was the author. and of its widespread
popularity not only at home but abroad.
His Father Abrahanls Address is printed
in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Be-
henlian, Gaelic and in modern Greek, and
since the ninety-seven years that have
passed by since his death no period of ten
years has elapsed without new edition of
his autobiography or a new life of him ap-
pearing IN some of the languages of civilized
men. In spite of all this little is generally
understood of the basis of his claims to be
considered a statesman, or of his famous
mission to France, Appointed one of three
Commissioners to France lee and Deane
were the other two, he set out for that coun-
try October, 1776, and landed in December at
Auroy, on the coast of Brittany, whence he
fastened to Nantes. There he met with
most extraordinary ovation-''such as has
never since been given to any citizen of the
United States"-for the report of ''the shot
heard round the world" had reached France,
and the nation as one man took sides with
liberty. AT Versailles, Paris, everywhere,
it was the same; he was welcomed as no
foreigner had ever before been welcomed.
His name and his cause were ON every lip
till Vergennes forbade the crowds in the
coffee-houses to discuss ''des inSltrgenS"
Meanwhile the King held aloof and declined
to receive the Commissioners, for he was
not disposed to openly befriend America,
and Deane, together with William Hodge,
set on foot a privateering venture. which
complicated matters, and finally ended in
the recall of Deane and the appointment of
John Adams in his stead. Adams found
the little company of Americans all ''by the
ears,n and, although they could agree in
little else, they all agreed in urging Con-
gress TO abolish the commission and ap-
point one man Minister to France. The ad
vice was taken, and Franklin was made sole
Minister to France.
CONFUSED STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Nor were the business affairs of the COM
mission in much better state than their
private affairs. "Carelessness, negligence,
disorder prevailed Method and order
Franklin could not acquire even in his
youth. But he was now in his I'D year,
had been out of business for more than
thirty, and, as a consequence of age and
leisure, had grown more careless and un
methodical than ever. Men who came to
see him were astonished to behold the
weightiest papers scattered in profusion
about the room. Some who knew him well
ventured to protest, reminded him that the
French were eager to know his business,
that he might in his own household have
many spies, and even went so far as to sug-
gest that his grandson should spend half an
hour day in putting his papers to rights.
To these his answer was always the same
10 Epa hot he in oil Iah
rounded by spies; but it was his practice
never to be concerned in any business he
was not willing to have everybody know,
and the disorder went on. All the com
mercial affairs, all treaty matters, all money
matters, all the diplomatic affairs of the
United States abroad, were in the hands of
the commissioners. They made loans,
bought ships, paid salaries, exchanged pris-
oners Yet not a notebook not letter
book, not an account-book of any kind, had
been kept. n ~
Such a shameful disregard of the first
principles of business alarmed Adams (who
had been left in France without an appoint
ment), and he turned himself into drudge
in his endeavor to introduce something like
order into the office of the commission. He
also wrote a warning letter to Samuel
Adams, in which he plainly expressed his
fears that Franklin so loved his ease. so
hated to offend, and was so engrossed with
social affeirs and other frivolous matters,
that unless a Secretary who could be de-
pended upon should be sent to him, America
would have reason to repent leaving politi-
cal affairs in his hands
HOW FRANKLIN ACCOMPLISHED HIS WORK
Adams fears were unfounded, although
his criticism was just. Mr.. McMaster says
Franklin was indolent, was fond of society,
was unable to say yes and no. But he was,
at the same time, the most original charac-
ter produced in America during the eigh-
teenth century, and he accomplished work
in France no other American could possibly
have done. On the March day, 177S, when,
in buckles shoes, wigless and in the plainest
clothes, he made his way through a crowd
OF painted beauties and powdered tops to
the presence of the King, his position in
France completely changed. On that day
he ceased to be solicitor of favor. On that
day he became the recognized representa-
tive of the United States, and more than
ever the centre of attraction at Paris Mr..
Lee and Mr. Deane were mere ciphers.
What they thought, or did, or said, was to
the French people and the French court, of
no consequence whatever. No paper ever
mentioned their names. No great man ever
darkened their doorways. The ear of |
Vergennes was never open to them till a |
letter from Franklin had prepared the way.
This position Franklin reached i'll way
man who flung his papers all over the floor,
kept no accounts, copied no letters, hated
business, dined out six nights week, and
would not send away even Fostering fell
low with an angry mo-" could really be
serving his country well was to Mr.. Adams |
an absurdity Mr.. Adams would
have lived at Paris, ignored the PEG
pie. deiuged the ministers with notes, and
have been we'll snubbed before he had been
six months in France. Franklin went to
Passy, lived secluded, gave the ministry no !
trouble whatever, and by his tact, his
shrewdness, his worldly wisdom, his wit, |
his skill in the management Of men, made
himself the most popular man in France,
and by his popularity overcame reluctant |
minister and yet more reluctant King. |
This done, the rest of his work was easy. He |
had but to keep the good will and love of
the French people, and he kept them COM
pletely.
THE WORK OF HIS PEN.
Such extraordinary popularity was not, |
however, unmingled with contempt One |
writer of memoirs describes him as lone of |
The great charlatans of the eighteenth cen
tury." Another cannot abide his table man
ners, and despises him for putting butter in |
his eggs and eating them from glass. A
third denounces him in a long poem. The
author of history of a French Louise ex-
hnU Ia. N1tf